Photography by Kit Palmer
Cooper Webb never gave up. The Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha rider chipped away at the big lead enjoyed by Tyler Bowers late in the 250 West Supercross final at Anaheim II. On the final lap he’d gotten to Bowers’ tailpipe. He then made an aggressive inside block pass on Bowers, sending Bowers over the tuff blocks and off the track. It was a thrilling end to race, Webb’s second consecutive victory. Bowers, a rider himself known for aggressive passes, showed true sportsmanship by congratulating Webb for the move afterwards. Bowers got back on track to finish second, 6.065 seconds back. Justin Hill crossed the finish line third, a tad over a second behind Bowers.
In an exciting 250 West title chase, the win for Webb moved him into the series lead by four points (64-60) over Bowers and Jessy Nelson, who are tied for second.
Nelson appeared to have control of the 15-lap Main Event, but he crashed out of the lead on Lap 6 and dropped to sixth. That allowed Bowers to assume the lead, just a short time after passing Hill for second. By this time Webb had fought his way into the top four and took over third on Lap 7. While Bowers pulled away, Hill and Webb engaged in an exciting battle for second, with Webb ultimately prevailing. Once in second Webb consistently chipped away at a four-plus second deficit to Bowers and put himself within striking distance on the final lap. As the two riders went to turn down the stadium’s first base line one final time and hit the home stretch, Webb cut inside Bowers, forcing contact that pushed Bowers off the track. Webb slipped by and took the win while Bowers recovered to finish second, his best finish of the season so far. Hill finished third.
“That was crazy. I got a bad start and had to come through the pack, so I was just trying to get into the top five,” said Webb, who raced to his first career win a week ago. “Then I got into second and realized I had a shot at the win. On the last lap I had to just put it in there, so I did and I was able to get by.”
“I got a decent start, but I rode better with people in front of me than out front by myself,” said Bowers, the reigning four-time AMSOIL Arenacross Champion. “I didn’t get tight or anything, I just made a lot of small mistakes. We’re looking good in the championship with a third, a fourth and now a second, so it’s hard to be angry with that. If we can get a couple wins we’ll really be in this [championship at the end].”
Webb passed Nelson for control of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class championship standings and now sits four points ahead. Bowers moved into a tie with Nelson for second.
Monster Energy Supercross continues next weekend with its fourth stop of the 17-race season from Oakland, California, signifying the first of two visits to the Bay Area in 2015. Live broadcast coverage on FOX Sports 1 begins at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 24.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Anaheim
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM
- Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
- Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 64
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM, 60
- Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 60
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna, 54
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM, 53
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha, 40
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 39
- Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM, 39
- Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki, 34
- Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 30
